When it comes to practical family SUVs that don’t sacrifice adventure capability, the 2025 Subaru Forester stands out from the crowd. This sixth-generation redesign brings fresh looks, better technology, and improved comfort while keeping everything people love about this reliable crossover.
What Makes the 2025 Forester Special
The completely redesigned Forester maintains its signature boxy, functional shape but with sharper lines and a more contemporary appearance. Subaru’s designers focused on making this generation quieter, more comfortable, and surprisingly more engaging to drive than you might expect from a practical family hauler.
Standard all-wheel drive remains a core strength, paired with 8.7 inches of ground clearance that lets you tackle rough roads and light off-road adventures with confidence. The familiar 2.5-liter flat-four engine produces 180 horsepower – not thrilling on paper, but perfectly adequate for daily driving and weekend getaways.
Hybrid Power Joins the Lineup
For the first time, Subaru offers a Forester Hybrid that bumps power to 194 horsepower while delivering an impressive 35 mpg combined fuel economy. The hybrid system works seamlessly with the all-wheel drive, unlike some competitors that only power the rear wheels electrically.
Trim Levels and Pricing
| Trim Level | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Base | $31,415 |
| Premium | $33,385 |
| Sport | $36,105 |
| Premium Hybrid | $36,595 |
| Limited | $37,695 |
| Sport Hybrid | $39,595 |
| Limited Hybrid | $41,010 |
| Touring | $41,595 |
| Touring Hybrid | $43,295 |
The Premium trim offers the best value for most buyers, adding heated seats, an 11.6-inch touchscreen, and more convenience features. The Sport variant adds attractive bronze accents, 19-inch wheels, and upgraded interior materials that give it a more premium feel.
Interior Space and Practicality
Step inside, and you’ll appreciate the Forester’s excellent visibility thanks to large windows and an upright seating position. The rear seats comfortably accommodate adults, and cargo space has improved to 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.4 cubic feet with seats folded.
Subaru clearly designed this interior for real-world use. The dark headliner hides scuffs from loading gear, and new screw-in cargo area mounts make it easier to secure bikes, camping equipment, or whatever adventure requires.
Technology and Safety Features
Standard Safety Excellence
Every Forester comes with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite, which includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and lane departure warning. For 2025, Subaru enhanced these systems with pedestrian and cyclist detection plus rear seat occupant alerts.
Modern Infotainment
Most trims feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen (base models get dual 7-inch screens) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system isn’t the sharpest in the segment, but the large screen provides plenty of room for navigation and entertainment controls.
Driving Experience
Don’t expect sports car thrills from the Forester – that’s not the point. Instead, you get a composed, confidence-inspiring drive that handles everything from city commutes to mountain trails. The new electric power steering, borrowed from the performance-oriented WRX, provides better feedback than the previous generation.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been refined to reduce the rubber-band effect that plagued earlier Subaru models. In the hybrid, an entirely different planetary-gear CVT system eliminates vibration issues altogether.
Fuel Economy That Makes Sense
The standard engine achieves 26-29 mpg combined depending on wheel size – respectable for a standard all-wheel-drive SUV. The hybrid’s 35 mpg puts it among the most efficient AWD crossovers available, though it trails the front-wheel-drive-biased Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
Who Should Consider the 2025 Forester
This SUV appeals to practical buyers who value capability over flashiness. If you need a reliable vehicle that handles daily family duties while being ready for weekend camping trips or ski adventures, the Forester delivers exactly that.
Families will appreciate the safety ratings, generous warranty coverage (3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain), and Subaru’s reputation for longevity. The company notes that 96% of Foresters sold in the last 10 years remain on the road today.
The redesigned Forester proves that boring can be beautiful when it means reliability, capability, and peace of mind for everyday adventures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the 2025 Forester reliable?
A: Subaru has an excellent reliability reputation, with 96% of Foresters from the past decade still running today.
Q: Should I get the hybrid version?
A: If fuel economy matters and you don’t mind the higher price, the hybrid offers better efficiency and slightly more power.
Q: How does cargo space compare to competitors?
A: At 74.4 cubic feet with seats down, it’s competitive but trails leaders like the Honda CR-V (76.5 cubic feet).
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